Mandy passed on this info from Wendy & Glenn, Quaker Hill,
CT.
"Tomorrow they are 4 weeks old, and I will switch the whelping box for a kiddie pool of pine
shavings with an entryway cut out of the side. Since the puppies are used to eliminating in the
whelping box, this naturally transfers to the pine shavings, and in a day or two all will have
stopped eliminating on the basement floor, and will be 95% going in the pine shavings. It's
amazing! They just do it, all on their own. Weather permitting, I will also start taking them
outside tomorrow, to learn about grass, leaves, sticks, sky, etc"
So I tried this.... I didn't think I had room for a small pool so I put in a puppy litter box...the dog stores sell these now. Then I think the buzz word is "BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME".... you just provide a place and they will use it. The first night at four weeks of age they started using it.... by the 5th week of age they were all using it most of the time... when they left at eight weeks 98%.....(I'm guessing but I'm trying to say MOST) ... I would watch them play and they would take a break and run to the box to do their thing....
Yes, they will play in the wood chips when they are fresh but they get bored with it real fast...... I put the box in the far corner of the pen away from the door and their water because instinctively that's the area they will want to seek most. I also put a crate (door removed) on one side which kept them from running through it during play. I deliberately kept the litter box soiled so they knew that was where to go.
If we went to the living room or porch I took a litter box with us. I was amazed that they would stop play and run to the box to us it...
I never thought this could happen with pups so young at five to eight weeks...but it did.. Let's face it... if you have a litter of 10 and only one pup uses it....you have 10% less mess... BUT more than one will use it!!!!!
TRY IT ....
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